Store fixture



Feb, 3. 1925. 1,524,748

F. M. OCONNOR STORE FIXTURE Filed Nov. 1922 a sheets-sheet 1 gwuantoc FrankM-D'Lunnup v attozwu a Feb. 3. 1925. 1,524,748 F. M. OCONNOR STORE FIXTURE Filed Nov. 2, 1922 s Sheets-Sheet 2 E l do EEE. w 2M 30 a Feb. 3. 1925.

- 1,524,748 F. M. OCONNOR STORE FIXTURE Filed Nov. 2, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fr ankTI-U' E. CITLTL DI" 6 6H0: umf

Patented Feb. 3, 1925.

PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK M. O'CONNOR, OF MASON CITY, IOWA.

sronn FIXTURE.

Application filed November 2, 1922. Serial No. 598,650..

[0 all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, FRANK M. OCoNNoR,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Mason City, in the county of Cerro Gardo and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Store Fixtures, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to improvements in store fixtures. I

The primary object of this invention 1s the provision of a store fixture embodying a novel article dispensing arrangement.

An important object of this invention is the provision of a store fixture which our-- bodies a plurality of relatively adjustable guide members, which may be so positioned as to support articles of various widths, heights, and thicknesses, and supporting them in such manner as to permit the easy and successive dispensing thereof.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved fixture for stores, embodying adjustable guard members which will permit the compact and convenient reception of various sized articles, in such manner as to permit the quick, convenient, and facile filling and dispensing thereof.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar. reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved store fixture showing certain novel and cooperating details thereof.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the im proved store fixture.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the 00- operating details of article guard means embodied in this invention.

Figure 4 is a bottom perspective View of a detail illustrated in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an edge elevation of the article guide arrangement of this invention.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, showing certain cooperating details of the article guard means.

Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 are views showing the dispensing end construction of the article supporting and dispensing means embodied in this invention.

Figure 11 is an end sectional view illuspartment drawers 10, slidable trating the cooperative relation of certain guide details.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown but the preferred embodiment of this invention, the letter A generally indicates the fixture, which may include the cabinet B; supporting arrangement 0; and article guide and dispensing arrangements D.

The cabinet B, which may, or may not be used in connection with the novel fixture A, preferably includes a plurality of comin the casing or body portion 11 thereof. The supporting arrangement C for the article guide means D may be mounted upon the top 14 of the cabmet'B in any approved manner, such as by walls 15. A supporting base 16 may be carried by the walls 15, or any similar structure, so that the same inclines at an acute angle to the vertical and horizontal. The longitudinally extending front and rear members 18 and 19 may be mounted the supporting arrangement C, and suitably connected in spaced relation at their ends as by means of the laterally extending pieces 20. These front and rear members 18 and upon 19 are respectively provided with slots 22 and 2? extending longitudinally thereof, and in which certaln adjustable meansof the arrangements D cooperate, as will be subsequently described. In lieu of the supporting arrangement C illustrated in the drawings, that type of supporting arrangement illustrated in my Patent #1,389,973' may be utilized, or any similar construction whereby the plane defined by the longitudinal pieces 18 and 19 andtheir connecting end pieces 20 may be either inclined or vertically disposed. Instead of providing a fixture A of perfect straight line formation, the same may be arcuate.

Referring to the article guide and dispensing arangement D, a plurality of which may be disposed upon the supporting arrangement O, in order to accommodate various articles. Each of thesame preferably comprises guide Walls 26 which are disposed in such spaced relation as toprovide a passageway or channel 27 therebetween, adapted for receiving articles to be dispensed. Each of the guide walls 26 includes the relatively long straight body portion 28 and the depending dispensing end 29, which is pref erably formed rigid with the portion 28 and -shanks 30 preferably depend throu h slots 31 and 32 formed upwardly wit in the lower marginal edge of each of the body portions 28. These screw threaded shanks 30 are adapted for sliding extension in the slots 22 and 23 of the supporting arrangement 0, so that the body (portions 28 of the guide walls 26 are dispose parallel with the supporting base 16, and being inclined at an acute angle. The ends 29 of said guide walls 26 preferably depend in vertical manner forwardly of the supporting arrangement C, substantially as is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. Each of the side walls 26 has a floor or bottom member cooperatively disposed adjacent the lower marginal edge thereof; said floor members 35 each having apertures 37 in the ends thereof for receiving the screw threaded shanks 30, and whereby the ends of said portions 35 rest directly upon the slotted members 18 and 19. The relation of these bottom members 35 to a pair of side walls 26 which cooperate in providing the article receiving passageway 2 is such that said floor or bottom members35 will extend laterally of the; plane of the side walls to which the same are attached, extending into the passageway 27' so that articles may rest directly upon the inwardly flanged portion thereof. The outside edge 39 of each of the bottom members 35 preferably lies flush with the outside surface 40 of its respective side wall 26. Tn this manner, a pair of the article receivingdevices D may be assembled in close abutting relation, substantially as is illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings.

In connection with each screw threaded shank 30, upper and lower adjusting nuts and 46 respectively are provided. The upper nuts 45 are adapted for direct clamping engagement with the bottom or floor pieces 35, and are accessibly dis osed for manual adjustment within the ront and rear slots 32 and 31 respectively of each wall 26. The lower nuts 46 are adapted for clamping cooperation upon the under surfaces of the slotted guide-strips 18 and 19. By this arrangement, it is at once apparent that by loosening of the lower nuts .46, the cooperating walls 26 of an article dispensing arrangement D may be relatively slid longitudinally over the supporting arrangement C, in order to provide a pasageway 27 of sufficient width to accommodate the article which it is desired to dispense from such arrangement D. Of course, the floor or bottom members 35 move with: the walls 26, to which they are attached by the screw threaded shanks 30. Upon tightening of the lower nuts 46, the walls 26 are rigidly attached to the frame strips 18 and 19. .A

further and important advantage of the adjustable mounting of the side walls 26, lies mamas in the fact that by the proper adjustment of 1 the nuts 45 and 46, the side walls 26 may be elevated with respect to the supporting arrangement C, substantially as is illustrated in Figure 11 of the drawings. This adjustment permits of the reception of articles in the device D, which has been so adjusted, notwithstanding the height of the same. The nuts 45 and 46 after proper elevation of the wall 26, are properly clamped, so that the floor portions 35 are, as above mentioned, clamped to the frame strips 18 and 19.

The upper edge of each side wall 26 of a dispensin and article receiving construction D 1s provided with the groove 50 extending longitudinally for the length of the portion 28 thereof, which is open upon the upper surface of the portion 28 by the longitudinal and laterally reduced slot or opening 51. By the narrowing of this slot 51, the inwardly facing retaining flanges 52 are provided. A cover nember 53 is provided for each wall 26, having a depending rib upon the lower surface 54 thereof which preferably extends its entire length. This rib 55 is substantially T-shaped in cross section and adapted for slidable reception within the enlarged passageway 50 of a wall 26, so that the head of the rib 55 engages beneath the retaining flanges 52 to permit the sliding of said cover members 53 upon their respective walls 26. The slots 50 open upon the rear ends of the walls 26, to permit the sliding of the covers 53 upon the walls 26 from said rear ends. The cover members 53 cooperate with the walls 26 in altogether similar manner to the bottom members 35, including portions which extend laterally of the plane of the walls to which they are attached, so that each wall 26 of an article dispensing arrangementD has the cover members 53 thereof extending laterally over the passageway 27 defined thereby. The outer edge 57 of each cover 53 preferably lies flush with the outer surface 10 of its respective wall 26.

Referring more particularly to the dispensing end of the article holding means D, each of the bottom pieces 35 of the side walls 26 of the arrangementl), is forwardly downturned as at 60, to cooperate with the vertical depending portion 29 of each of the side walls 26. This provides a. vertical inwardly extending flange for the passageway 27 of the dispensing and supporting arrangement B. At the forward edges of the portions 29 of the guide walls 26, inwardly extending flange portions 61 are provided, which are preferably rigid, integral or affixed in any approved manner to the portions 29 of the walls 26, extending inwardly to provide guide flanges for the portions 29 for substantially one half of their length. These flange portions 61 cooperate with the cover guide members 53, and, in fact, provide a retaining means for the lower ends of said covers 53. In order to support an article at the dispensing end of a device D, adjustable L-shaped supporting members 63 are provided, which each include a plate portion 64 having an elongated slot 65 therein, which slidably receives a screw threaded shank 66 extending laterally of the rear surface of each bottom portion 60. A wing nut 67 preferably cooperates upon each of the screw threaded, shanks 66, so that the plate portion 64 o the supporting member 63 maybe clamped upon the rear surface of the bottom end 60. In this relation, the shelf portion 7 O of each member 63, which is substantially at right angles to the plate portion 64 thereof, extends inwardly of the .passageway 27 at the extreme dispensing end of the device D, substantially as is illustrated in the various figures of the drawings, in order to support articles thereon.

Referring to the operation of a dispens ing device D, the side walls 26 thereof are laterally adjusted along the strip members 18 and 19 until the same have been spaced sulficient to accommodate the line of articles to be placed within the passageway 27. After properly clamping the side walls 26 and the bottoms 35, as above described, the passageway 27 is filled with the article to be dispensed by sliding the covers 53 rearwardly, substantially as is illustrated in one of the dispensing arrangements D in Figure 1 of the drawings, and the articles are placed in the passageway 27 so that the articles extend entirely along the side walls 26 and intermediate the same. The end supporting member 63 is, of course, vertically adjusted, in order that the shelf end thereof may support the lowermost article substantially as is illustrated in Figure 7 of the drawings, and in such manner that such article 75 may be laterally tipped. from the passageway 27 of the dispensing end of the means D, and removed therefrom. It is to be noted that the weight of the line of articles sup-ported in the passageway 27 is not directly upon the lowermost article 75, since as is illustrated in Figure 7 of the drawings, the article 76 adj acent article 75 has portions thereof which not only bear upon the article 75, but likewise bear upon the rigid attached guide flanges 61.

From the foregoing description of this invention, it can be understood that an improved store fixture has been provided, by means of which different articles of various shapes, compositions, and formation, may be readily and conveniently handled by the segregation of articles of like design in the guide and dispensing arran ements D. The articles will be gravity fe since the arrangements D will be acutely inclined to the vertical, or vertically disposed. By the provision of means for extending the walls of the guide and dispensing means D, articles of various sizes ma be conveniently handled, since thereby it is possible to space the floor and top guide members of each of the dispensing devices D in. selective manner. The walls 26 of an article receiving and dispensing arrangement D may be placed in abutting engagement with the walls of an adjacent arrangement D, so that the entire space upon the supporting means C may be utilized for article dispensing pur ses.

arious changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be made'to the form of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of this invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a fixture of the class described," the combination of a supporting means, guide members on said supporting means including sides having article receiving space therebetween, and guide cover portions movably carried by said sides and extending over said article receiving space.

2. In a store fixture, the combination of a supporting arrangement, side -walls mounted in spaced relation upon said supporting arrangement, and guide covers slidably and detachably carried by said walls.

3. A store fixture comprising a support, article guide walls carried upon said support having grooves in the upper edges thereof, and guide members having rib portions depending therefrom adapted for slidable reception in the grooves of said side walls, said guide members adapted to extend over the article receiving space in- .thereto.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a support, a guide device including side wall portions, a bottom, and means for adjustable connection of the guide device with said support to permit relative adjustment of the side walls and bottom, and top members lon itudinally movable with respect to said si e walls in spaced relation over the bottom wall.

7. A store fixture comprising a support, and an article guide arrangement mounted upon said support includin side walls having de ending screw threa ed shanks thereon, a ottom member for each of said side walls, and clamping nuts for each screw threaded shank adapted forclamping of ing'laterally thereof, of guide walls having screw threaded shanks extending therefrom adapted for sliding engagement in said slots, a bottom member for each side wall receiving said screw threaded shanks therethrough topermit of extension of said bottoms inwardlyof the side walls, nuts upon each of said screw threaded shanks at the upper and lower surfaces of the bottom member and support arrangement respectively, whereby said side walls may be adjusted with their bottom members relatively along the slots of said support, said walls being adjustable as to permit the substantially perpendicular adjustment of the side walls with respect to their bottom members.

9. In a device of 'the class described, the combination of a supportin arrangement having substantially paralle slots extending laterally thereof, of guide walls having screw threaded shanks extending therefrom adapted for sliding engagement in said slots, a bottom member for each side wall receiving said screw threaded shanks therethrough to ermit of extension of said bottoms inwar ly of the side walls, nuts upon each of said screw threaded shanks at the upper and lower surfaces of the bottom member and support arran ement respectively, whereby said side wa ls may be adjusted with their bottom members relatively along the slots of said support, said walls being adjustable as to permit the substantially perpendieular adjustment of the side walls with respect to their bottom members, and cover members for each of said sidewalls longitudinally movable over said side walls and including flanged portions extending inwardly for cooperation above said bottom members.

10. An article dispensing apparatus comprising spaced guide walls, a top adapted for longitudinal sliding on each of said guide walls extending laterally over the space intermediate said walls, and laterally extending floor portions rigid with said guide walls.

11'. In a device of the class described, the combination of a supporting arrangement including upper and lower guide members having ongitudinal slots therein, and a series of article receiving and dispensing devices adjustable on said supporting arrangement, each of which include a pair of guide walls rovided with depending screw threaded s anks adapted for sliding extension into the slots of said supporting arrangement, floor guide means carried by said side walls for relative adjustment with respect to each other and with respect to the side walls upon which used, slidable cover means for said guard walls, and dispensing means for said article guide walls.

FRANK M. OCONNOR. 

